Published: August 5, 2012

One Race, Every Medalist Ever

Usain Bolt’s 9.63 set an Olympic record in the 100. So how far ahead of every Olympic medalist is he?Related Article »

All the Medalists: Men’s 100-Meter Sprint

Sources: "The Complete Book of the Olympics" by David Wallechinsky and Jaime Loucky, International Olympic Committee; Amateur Athletic Assocation; Photographs: Chang W. Lee/The New York Times, Getty Images, International
Olympic Committee

By KEVIN QUEALY and GRAHAM ROBERTS

Usain Bolt vs. 116 years of Olympic sprinters

Based on the athletes’ average speeds, if every Olympic medalist raced each other, Usain Bolt (the London version) would win, with a wide distribution
of Olympians behind him. Below, where each sprinter would be when Bolt finishes his race.

Usain Bolt2012

Meters behind 2012 Bolt

This chart includes medals for the United States and Australia in the "Intermediary" Games of 1906, which the I.O.C. does not formally recognize.

Notable winners of the 100-meter sprint

I.O.C.

Archie Hahn

United States

The “Milwaukee Meteor” also won the 50-meter dash and the 200-meter dash in 1904.

1904, Athens

11.0

1906, Athens

11.2

I.O.C.

Jesse Owens

United States

Also set the world record in the 4x100 relay and Olympic records in the long jump and 200-meter dash.

1936, Berlin

10.3

I.O.C.

Jim Hines

United States

The first person to break 10 seconds in the Olympics; his 9.95 set an Olympic record that would last 20 years.